Measuring otoplasty outcome: Expanding the validity to caregivers' perspective and to Portuguese-speaking children.

[OBJECTIVE] The GBI (Glasgow Benefit Inventory) and the GCBI (Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory) are used to evaluate patient-reported Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) following otoplasty for prominent ears. The aim of this study was to validate them through patients' and caregivers' perspectives and in Portuguese language versions.

[STUDY DESIGN] After translation to Portuguese, the GBI and the GCBI were applied to patients (n = 255) who underwent otoplasty throughout a five-year span and to their caregivers, respectively. A second set of questionnaires (retest) was applied to assess reliability. Caregivers were subsequently contacted to evaluate aesthetic satisfaction, recommendation to others, postoperative complications and main motivation for surgery.

[SETTING] Paediatric Surgery Department of a tertiary hospital in Porto, Portugal.

[PARTICIPANTS] 134 patients (aged 10.9 ± 3.6 years, 61.2% males) and their caregivers (52.5% responders).

[MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES] Impact on HRQoL using the Portuguese GBI and GCBI (global score, -100 to 100). Validity assessed by principal component factor analysis, Cronbach's α and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC).

[RESULTS] The GBI was 30.1 ± 25.7 and the GCBI was 22.6 ± 23.0. For the GBI, three subscales were identified, explaining 63.3% of variance. For the GCBI, two subscales were identified, accounting for 66.8% of variance. Both the GBI and the GCBI showed a high internal consistency (α = 0.92 and 0.94, respectively). 79% were satisfied and 92% recommended the surgery. Statistically significant higher scores were found in satisfied patients, in those who underwent surgery due to teasing, and in females.

[CONCLUSIONS] The Portuguese GBI and GCBI proved to be valid and reliable to evaluate HRQoL following otoplasty in Portuguese-speaking children. The outcome was very favourable; almost all patients would recommend the surgery.